Newcastle Jets remain rooted to the foot of the A-League ladder after being edged out 1-0 by Adelaide United at Hunter Stadium.

Marcelo Carrusca's first-half strike was enough for the Reds to claim an important victory which leaves them just two points off top spot.

Just moments after Dylan McGowan had cleared off the line at one end, Carrusca had the ball in the back of the net up the other as he converted from close range following a fine searching pass from Isaias Sanchez.

Newcastle came close to equalising through Enver Alivodic's curling effort which ended narrowly over the bar, while Eugene Galekovic produced a big save to keep out Mitch Cooper prior to the interval.

All the momentum was with the Jets as Edson Montano struck the post, although a 300th A-League goal evaded the Novocastrians.

Sergio Cirio came within a few inches of extending Adelaide's advantage in the closing quarter of the game, only for his attempt to be kept out by the fingertips of Ben Kennedy, meaning that Carrusca's strike proved the difference in the end.